Glen Oaks Big Sur Elopements: Wedding Ceremonies in the Redwoods
Glen Oaks Big Sur Elopements:
Wedding Ceremonies in the Redwoods
Photo credit: Melissa Ergo
If you’re planning to elope in Big Sur, California, I highly recommend Glen Oaks Big Sur. It has multiple, magical fairy rings, lush foliage, a rustic chic, boutique hotel, fire pits and private outdoor bathtubs, a 150-foot walking bridge suspended over the Big Sur River, and proximity to many epic spots along the Big Sur coast that make for jaw-droppingly-beautiful-envy-inducing-wedding-photos. What’s not to love? This is why Glen Oaks Big Sur is a phenomenal destination elopement venue.
Set among towering redwoods beside the Big Sur River, Glen Oaks has the secluded feeling of a forest sanctuary while still being in the heart of Big Sur Village. Couples can exchange vows onsite in redwood groves and fairy rings, stay in cabins and cottages tucked into the same forest, and easily move between their lodging, ceremony site, and portrait spots around the property. Bridge House offers another option for intimate celebrations, including micro-weddings.
I’m grateful that I frequently get to officiate elopements at Glen Oaks Big Sur and have officiated more than 30 wedding ceremonies there. The venue is a bit of a hidden gem right off California Highway 1 in Big Sur, located one mile south of Big Sur River Inn and about 2 miles north of the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park entrance.
I regularly get to collaborate with talented local wedding photographers and videographers at Glen Oaks, including Nirav Patel, Brandon Scott, Joshua Rose, and most often, Melissa Ergo, whose photos are featured in this elopement blog.
Melissa and I also offer a Big Sur elopement photographer-and-officiant package. We’ve worked together for years, our collaboration is seamless, and we create cohesive, warm, relaxed, professional experiences for couples at Glen Oaks Big Sur and beyond. You can learn more about our collaboration here.
Below I share photos and vignettes from real couples’ elopement stories and wedding ceremonies I’ve officiated at Glen Oaks Big Sur. If you’re looking for someone to officiate your Glen Oaks Big Sur elopement or trying to decide whether this venue is right for your intimate wedding, this blog is a good place to get inspired.
Silver Linings
Intimate elopement ceremony at Glen Oaks Big Sur, photo by Reggie Ballesteros
Kevin and Lily are super special to me. I worked with them on their ceremony for over two years, and, because of the pandemic, I got to marry them twice! Lily had always wanted to elope, but Kevin wanted a big wedding with all of their friends and family. So they planned a big wedding, which got postponed 2x because of covid. Therefore, Lily also got her wish fulfilled because she and Kevin ended up eloping at Glen Oaks Big Sur on the date of their originally scheduled wedding ceremony. I officiated both their elopement ceremony and their “sequel ceremony” at The Mountain Terrace with all their peeps.
2.22.22
Photo credit: Melissa Ergo
Jennifer and Evan (both teachers) met at work. They became best friends within the first few months of getting to know each other. They were best friends for 2 years before they started dating, because neither of them realized that they both had feelings for one another. Eventually Jennifer decided to bite the bullet and confess her feelings. They told each other how they felt and have been inseparable ever since. As soon as they started dating they both knew that this was it, this was forever for them. They got married at Glen Oaks Big Sur on 2.22.22 (a very popular and in demand wedding date!)
He Found The One
Photo credit: Melissa Ergo
Lila and Danny met through work and have been inseparable ever since. Danny realized right away that Lila was the one, gushing to his mom and older sister right after his first date that he “had found the one.” They got engaged in the middle of the Zion Wilderness after a ten-mile hike! With a handful of their family members in attendance, Lila and Danny got married inside a fairy ring at Bridge House—an oasis within an oasis at Glen Oaks Big Sur. They had a secular wedding ceremony, but signed a beautiful, decorative ketubah before the ceremony to honor Lila’s Jewish heritage.
From Fling To Forever
Photo credit: Melissa Ergo
Talia and Luis met playing pick up volleyball in 2012. Their relationship started as a friendship and moved on to a self-proclaimed fling. They didn’t think it would be a ‘forever thing,’ but obviously they were wrong! They exchanged personal vows in what was a super intimate and emotional elopement ceremony in one of Glen Oaks’ awe-inspiring fairy rings.
Best Non-Date Ever
Photo credit: Melissa Ergo
Massis and Amanda met online. Their first date was a "non-date," i.e. drinks and dinner as friends. But it was the best date either of them had ever had. They really made each other laugh! They had a destination elopement with a handful of family members at Bridge House at Glen Oaks. The photo of Massis and Amanda above proves that there’s really nothing quite like that "just married" glow! Here's what they said about their ceremony: "We wanted to thank you for the absolutely wonderful ceremony! You hit all the right notes! Thank you for the reminder to breathe and be present in the moment. It made all the difference."
Big Sur Backup!
Photo credit: Melissa Ergo
Keri and Erik originally planned to elope in Thailand, but with covid and travel restrictions their backup plan was Big Sur. Quite the backup! One (maybe the only) big bummer about Glen Oaks is that they don't allow pets. For shame! Keri said, "Our 2 year old French bulldog, Cheeky is our baby. She’s pissed that she can’t be onsite for the ceremony."
Making New Memories
Photo credit: Melissa Ergo
Heather and Collin met online. They are a self-proclaimed nerdy/goofy couple. They love to joke around and are rarely serious. Most of their time is spent outdoors or working on their house. They love hiking, fishing, campfires in the backyard, and gardening. Their fur babies (three dogs and one cat) are super important to them! Heather and Collin traveled from Ohio for a destination elopement at Glen Oaks Big Sur. The eloped on the date of their 4 year anniversary. Until then, they'd celebrated each anniversary by recreating their first date, but this year they were making new memories!
A Galaxy In Human Skin
Photo credit: Melissa Ergo
Christina and Jordan were two of the nicest people you could meet. They had a destination micro-wedding (them and about 8 family members) at Bridge House at Glen Oaks. (The Bridge House is basically all windows on both sides, so even indoors the lighting is absolutely breathtaking.) Their wedding vows were memorable! In her vows Christina told Jordan, "You healed me in places I didn’t even know I was broken." And during his vows he told her "You are more than just an amazing person; you are an entire galaxy in human skin." Here’s what Christina had to say about working with me: "Naomi was such a blessing on our wedding day! We couldn't have asked for anyone better. The moment she arrived she brought such calming energy, and our entire family loved her. We felt so comfortable with her and would happily recommend her to anyone."
A Numbers Game
Photo credit: Nirav Patel
At the time of their elopement, James and Natalia had been together for eight years. They had lived together in five different apartments, driven cross-country twice, done one year of long-distance, loved and supported each other through heart-wrenching family hardships, taught each other about patience and unconditional love, cooked countless meals for each other, taken just as many walks together, rescued and raised one needy and loving pup, had the time of their lives working from home together, and so much more. Their elopement was full of love and a profound depth of intimacy. Nirav Patel captured the magic.
Terms & Conditions
Photo credit: Brandon Scott Photo
Dani and Alex met at a fraternity party. Alex and some friends were laying down rap beats using Apple’s Terms and Conditions as lyrics. Dani and Alex became friends and eventually lovers. They survived two years of long distance, and one Covid elopement postponement before getting married at Glen Oaks Big Sur.
From Loss To Love
Photo credit: Melissa Ergo
They met while Sherril was grieving the loss of her soul dog. She was so brokenhearted she didn’t know how she’d get through it. And then, unexpectedly, in the depths of her despair, she met Philippe. And they had this great love story, only it was interrupted by covid and travel bans and all kinds of crazy detours and logistical hurdles you wouldn’t believe, until finally they made it to Glen Oaks Big Sur for an emotional and joyful elopement in the redwoods.
They Believe It Was Fate
Photo credit: Melissa Ergo
Maria and Jackie met at work. They started out as friends, but as they got to know one another better, it became clear that there was something truly special between them. While their connection was unexpected, they both felt like it was fate that brought them together. They decided to elope because they wanted to focus on their love, dedication and commitment without having to think about anyone else on their wedding day.
Maine, Vegas, Cancun, Big Sur
Photo credit: Joshua Rose
This destination elopement was an awesome collaboration with some terrific wedding vendors including Joshua Rose and Happy Camper Films at Glen Oaks Big Sur. Tina & Peter met in Maine, live in Vegas, got engaged in Cancun, and chose a place they had never been to get married. They put a ton of trust in a small team of vendors to help bring their elopement dreams to life. Tina came across Diana and Peter’s Happy Camper Films elopement video (below) and it inspired her to hire them to document their day, and me to officiate their elopement ceremony. The photo above was taken along the Big Sur coast a few hours after their ceremony on the eve of an epic full moon. Here’s a link to Peter and Tina’s inspiring elopement video!
The Most BEAUTIFUL Elopement
{Big Sur Wedding Video} // Diana + Peter
Finally, here’s a stunning video of Peter and Diana’s Big Sur elopement created by Happy Camper Films. This video had gotten 40k views the last time I checked, and countless couples have reached out to me about officiating their Big Sur elopement as a result of it. Peter and Diana met (and had their first date) in NYC. They relocated to San Francisco several years later for Peter's job. They planned to get married in June 2020, but when it became clear that they wouldn't be able to have the wedding they'd initially envisioned, they decided to move forward and elope. It turned out to be a great idea! Peter and Diana had their ceremony and exchanged personal vows at Glen Oaks Big Sur, and then took photos all along the Big Sur coast afterwards.